Infrastructure News Summary
For November 16, 2007

PANEL APPROVES BRIDGE REPAIRS
Evansville Courier & Press
Thomas B. Langhorne
11-16-07

A repair to the New Harmony Toll Bridge serving Illinois and Indiana commuters might have the bridge open again by year's end, a White County Bridge Commission member says. The three-member commission green-lighted the repair to a crack in a concrete pier on the west side of the bridge along the Wabash River waterline after consulting Thursday with federal and state transportation officials representing Illinois and Indiana. The bridge has been closed for almost two months. During that time, motorists have been using Interstate 64 or crossing on Indiana 62/Illinois 141 at Mount Vernon, Ind. "This repair is not related to the major rehab of the bridge that we're trying to get funding for in the next five years," Bridge Commission member Mike Egbert said Thursday. http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/nov/16/panel-approves-bridge-repairs/

CHAMBER SUPPORTS SOUTH SHORE EXPANSION TO SERVE VALPARAISO
Gary Post-Tribune
11-15-07

The board of directors of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce wants state and local officials to study how commuter rail can be expanded to Valparaiso. "The extension of commuter rail would be a major step forward to link Valparaiso to the Chicago Loop," said Dave Rose, chairman of the Valparaiso chamber board. "The benefits for Porter County would be significant." In 2000, the West Lake County major investment study recommended the expansion of commuter rail to ease congestion and promote economic development. The study identified a preferred alignment from Chicago to Munster via Hammond to Valparaiso. The South Shore line is the third fastest-growing commuter rail line in the United States, according to the American Public Transportation Association and provides the only mass transit service into Chicago for Indiana residents. http://www.post-trib.com/news/651958,vchamberside.article

MORE BRIDGE INSPECTIONS COME AT A COST
NWI Times
Bill Dolan
11-15-07

Crown Point -- Taxpayers are being asked to foot a higher bill for added bridge safety inspections while the county struggles to keep up with reviews of the hundreds of road bridges for which it already is responsible, Lake commissioners complained Wednesday. The county may have to pay thousands of additional dollars to have an Indianapolis-based engineering firm examine not only 160 bridges the county highway department now maintains but also another 14 bridges that previously were the responsibility of cities, towns and at least one private steel mill. Lake County Highway Superintendent Marcus Malczewski said the state is mandating the county take on the extra responsibility. Commissioner Fran DuPey, D-Hammond, criticized the unfunded mandate. "Let's get some cost sharing," said DuPey, who suggested postponing the additional inspections until funding appears. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/15/news/lake_county/doca697ea7d5394870d86257394000a4f40.txt

GOSHEN ACQUIRES LAND FOR SOUTH LINK ROAD
Goshen News
Tara Layne
11-14-07

Following months of private negotiations, Goshen officials have reached settlement agreements with the two parties that own land needed for a south link road. City officials will pay about $1.7 million to purchase land for the road, plus $43,000 in legal fees and some appraisal fees. The road will connect C.R. 27 on the east with Ind. 15 on the west. The road will come out on Ind. 15 about a block south of Waterford Elementary School. A grade separation - most likely an overpass - is planned at the railroad tracks. The road will T at Dierdorff Road (C.R. 27). http://www.goshennews.com/local/local_story_318102350.html

NEW ALBANY'S MOUNT TABOR ROAD OPENING BY THANKSGIVING?
News and Tribune
Eric Scott Campbell
11-15-07

The final phase of the Mount Tabor Road renovation is targeted for completion by Nov. 26, a city contractor said Wednesday. Tom Schellenberg, a traffic engineer with the firm Jacobi, Toombs and Lanz, said the previous deadline of Nov. 8 was not met when utilities relocated too late. The road is closed between Green Valley Road and Lancaster Drive in New Albany. "We're hoping by Thanksgiving, but we really don't know at this point," Schellenberg said, citing the prospect of rain interruptions. Schellenberg estimated the final cost of the four phases will amount to about $3 million. Under a federal matching program, the city would be responsible for $600,000 of that. http://www.news-tribune.net/local/local_story_319111507.html

PAYING FOR CITY BRIDGES
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
11-15-07

Editorial. "Allen County Council members will serve their constituents poorly and set back progress on intergovernmental cooperation if they unilaterally move the costs of fixing and replacing bridges to Fort Wayne, New Haven and the county's other municipal governments. Council members should, at the very least, work closely with municipal officials to seek a consensus on how to finance future bridge costs." http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071115/EDIT07/711150386

STATE SAYS SUPER 70 LANES, RAMPS OPEN
Indianapolis Star
Vic Ryckaert
11-16-07

Eastside commuters zipped along I-70 after the major construction on the $175 million Super 70 project ended this morning. All lanes and ramps on I-70 opened after work was completed at 1:30 a.m., INDOT announced. Minor work - including bridge beam painting, erosion control, grading and electrical work - will continue through mid-2008. Officials warn there may be single lane closures during off-peak hours. Walsh Construction likely will receive about half of the maximum $1.8 million incentive allotted for reopening the highway to traffic early, INDOT said. While the highway opened a day after the contract said the work should have been finished before Walsh would owe money to the state, weather conditions and other issues caused the project to start two weeks late, INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield said.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071116/LOCAL/711160519/1006

NEXT ROAD PROJECT: PENDLETON PIKE
Indianapolis Star
Cathy Kightlinger
11-16-07

Motorists who use Pendleton Pike in Lawrence might want to start considering alternate routes to get where they are going after Thanksgiving. Driving restrictions, to accommodate major construction work, are expected to begin Nov. 26, according to INDOT. Part of the state's "Major Moves," road construction, program, the about two-year project is the third and final phase of work to rebuild infrastructure and widen busy Pendleton Pike between I-465 and McCordsville. The start of the Pendleton Pike work project comes is coming as Super 70 -- the eight-month, $175 million I-70 improvement project -- is ending. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071116/LOCAL/711160553

THE BUSINESS REARVIEW: I-70 PROJECT NOT SO BAD
Indianapolis Star
Erika D. Smith
11-16-07

Super 70 never turned into the super headache that many Eastside business owners predicted -- but that doesn't mean they're sorry to see the detour signs and orange barrels go. Work on the 8-month, $175 million highway construction project will wrap up by Saturday morning at the latest, said Will Wingfield, a spokesman for INDOT. All the I-70 exit ramps are open, but some entrance ramps remained closed Thursday afternoon. Exactly when they will reopen depends on the weather. Much of the remaining work is weather- and temperature- sensitive. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071116/BUSINESS/711160439/1003/BUSINESS